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Allen Park — For veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, taking part in Organized Team Activities in late May was once a regular occurrence.
Throughout his career, whether serving as a starter or backup, Bridgewater has participated in nearly all of his team's offseason workouts since being selected by the Minnesota Vikings (No. 32 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bridgewater's last opportunity came in 2022 when he joined the Miami Dolphins. However, due to several factors, including a swift retirement in 2023, he missed OTAs for the next three years. In 2024, Bridgewater believed his OTA days were over when he became the head coach at his former high school, Miami Northwestern, and led the team to a state championship in that same year.
But when the Detroit Lions began practicing ahead of the 2026 season, Bridgewater served as the primary backup to Jared Goff, returning to the excitement of early-summer football.
"It's cool to be back out here. It's a lot of fun, especially with the young guys," Bridgewater told The Detroit News on Friday. "It's always fun when you have a chance to compete. ... Unfortunately, certain events at the high school landed me back in the NFL. But I am here to play, and I am enjoying it."
Bridgewater's participation in OTAs highlighted the Lions' efforts to find a reliable backup quarterback behind Goff. It also reflects the strong relationships Bridgewater has built over the years with various members of the franchise. One notable connection is with coach Dan Campbell, who worked with Bridgewater during their time together with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 2020.
The relationships he has built are the primary reason Bridgewater did not hesitate to return to the Lions for his third stint. He initially signed with Detroit for brief tenures in 2023 and 2024, but this marks the first time he has had the opportunity to be with the franchise for OTAs. It's a crucial factor in establishing a genuine spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.
"It's all relationship-driven," Bridgewater said. "At this point, there are coaches on the coaching staff who I actually played with and trained with. That played a huge role in my decision to return."
However, Bridgewater's return to the Lions was not solely based on his relationships with the coaching staff; it was also influenced by the chemistry and continuity he already had with many of his teammates. One notable example is wide receiver Jameson Williams, who Bridgewater helped with his veteran leadership during the 2023 season.
Amid his return, Bridgewater aims to hold a role with the Lions similar to the one he previously held, which benefited the star receiver."With everything he (Williams) had going on at that time, I was able to come in and connect with him in a way where he is a completely different player now. He is a true pro," Bridgewater said.
"I'm just happy to have a chance to help the younger guys because they do not get a chance to really spend time with the coaches this time of the year. As one of the older guys and leaders on this team, this is a perfect time to step up and help. To pour into the younger guys and to help them build a foundation to last in this league for a long time."
Bridgewater shares Campbell's perspective on not assessing the Lions' 2026 potential during the first week of OTA practices. For Bridgewater, wearing shorts and T-shirts on the practice field makes it difficult to determine where the team will improve most as they look to move past last season's disappointment.
Bridgewater has adopted a stay-ready mentality to contribute to the Lions' success throughout the upcoming season. However, with every snap he takes during team scrimmages at Allen Park, it's hard for him not to feel excited about what the Lions could achieve.
On Day 3 of OTAs, Bridgewater showcased that his talents can still contribute to the team's success. During seven-on-seven play on Friday afternoon, Bridgewater connected with rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law for what could have sent fans at Ford Field into a frenzy.
"From Day 1 to Day 3, you can see a big difference in the younger guys, learning what is expected around here, like how to get in and out of team huddles," Bridgewater said. "Just making sure we are all doing the little things right. It is night and day from where we started just three days ago."
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@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater embraces veteran role in return to Detroit
Continue reading...
Throughout his career, whether serving as a starter or backup, Bridgewater has participated in nearly all of his team's offseason workouts since being selected by the Minnesota Vikings (No. 32 overall) in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Bridgewater's last opportunity came in 2022 when he joined the Miami Dolphins. However, due to several factors, including a swift retirement in 2023, he missed OTAs for the next three years. In 2024, Bridgewater believed his OTA days were over when he became the head coach at his former high school, Miami Northwestern, and led the team to a state championship in that same year.
But when the Detroit Lions began practicing ahead of the 2026 season, Bridgewater served as the primary backup to Jared Goff, returning to the excitement of early-summer football.
"It's cool to be back out here. It's a lot of fun, especially with the young guys," Bridgewater told The Detroit News on Friday. "It's always fun when you have a chance to compete. ... Unfortunately, certain events at the high school landed me back in the NFL. But I am here to play, and I am enjoying it."
Bridgewater's participation in OTAs highlighted the Lions' efforts to find a reliable backup quarterback behind Goff. It also reflects the strong relationships Bridgewater has built over the years with various members of the franchise. One notable connection is with coach Dan Campbell, who worked with Bridgewater during their time together with the New Orleans Saints in 2019 and 2020.
The relationships he has built are the primary reason Bridgewater did not hesitate to return to the Lions for his third stint. He initially signed with Detroit for brief tenures in 2023 and 2024, but this marks the first time he has had the opportunity to be with the franchise for OTAs. It's a crucial factor in establishing a genuine spot on the Lions' 53-man roster.
"It's all relationship-driven," Bridgewater said. "At this point, there are coaches on the coaching staff who I actually played with and trained with. That played a huge role in my decision to return."
However, Bridgewater's return to the Lions was not solely based on his relationships with the coaching staff; it was also influenced by the chemistry and continuity he already had with many of his teammates. One notable example is wide receiver Jameson Williams, who Bridgewater helped with his veteran leadership during the 2023 season.
Amid his return, Bridgewater aims to hold a role with the Lions similar to the one he previously held, which benefited the star receiver."With everything he (Williams) had going on at that time, I was able to come in and connect with him in a way where he is a completely different player now. He is a true pro," Bridgewater said.
"I'm just happy to have a chance to help the younger guys because they do not get a chance to really spend time with the coaches this time of the year. As one of the older guys and leaders on this team, this is a perfect time to step up and help. To pour into the younger guys and to help them build a foundation to last in this league for a long time."
Bridgewater shares Campbell's perspective on not assessing the Lions' 2026 potential during the first week of OTA practices. For Bridgewater, wearing shorts and T-shirts on the practice field makes it difficult to determine where the team will improve most as they look to move past last season's disappointment.
Bridgewater has adopted a stay-ready mentality to contribute to the Lions' success throughout the upcoming season. However, with every snap he takes during team scrimmages at Allen Park, it's hard for him not to feel excited about what the Lions could achieve.
On Day 3 of OTAs, Bridgewater showcased that his talents can still contribute to the team's success. During seven-on-seven play on Friday afternoon, Bridgewater connected with rookie wide receiver Kendrick Law for what could have sent fans at Ford Field into a frenzy.
"From Day 1 to Day 3, you can see a big difference in the younger guys, learning what is expected around here, like how to get in and out of team huddles," Bridgewater said. "Just making sure we are all doing the little things right. It is night and day from where we started just three days ago."
[email protected]
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions QB Teddy Bridgewater embraces veteran role in return to Detroit
Continue reading...
